Wobbly baby hedgehog!!!!

[2dogs2000]

I rescued a baby hedgehog from our school playing field on Tuesday. It was wandering around at 1 p.m. It had a good feed and slept until tonight. Now it is awake and eating but it is very wobbly. I am taking it to a rescue centre tomorrow afternoon but is there any reason for the wobble and is there anything I can do about it tonight? It weighs 293grams.

[vole-woman]

If it is wobbly it probably has hypothermia. So get it as warm and snug as you can, and make water available to it and meaty cat food. Getting the body temp back up is your immediate priority, though.

There are people on this site who are hog experts, but I'm posting from the experience of having found a wobble hog last year.

[2dogs2000]

I did wonder about that as a possibility. It does feel cold when I can get near its tummy. I will have to use warm towels as my daughter moved out and took the only hot water bottle.

[Hedgehoggy]

If it’s wobbling, you’ll need to act really fast. Ideally, it should be taken to the rescue centre immediately for treatment (most wildlife/rescue centres are open 24/7). Direct heat is essential. Extra bedding is not sufficient. If you don’t have a hot water bottle to hand, you can make one by means of a plastic pop bottle, or similar, by filling with hot water, wrapping the bottle in a towel and placing it next to the hoglet. Then drape a towel/fleece over the hoglet and water bottle. You’ll need to ensure the hoglet is able to move away from the heat source if he gets too hot. Once he’s warmed up (approx ½ hr) he’ll need to be given a rehydrating fluid. Your local wildlife centre will administer this sub-cutaneously, but you could start the process at home (whilst waiting for the hoglet to warm up) by mixing 1 litre of boiled water with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt, allow to cool to body temperature, then offer the hoglet some of the fluid in a dish. If he fails to drink by himself, he’ll need the fluid fed via a syringe or dropper. I hope the rescue centre is able to take him from you tonight. [Take the heated water bottle and bedding on the journey to the wildlife centre too.]

Good luck to you both, and well done for rescuing the little mite.

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by Hedgehoggy

If it’s wobbling, you’ll need to act really fast. Ideally, it should be taken to the rescue centre immediately for treatment (most wildlife/rescue centres are open 24/7). Direct heat is essential. Extra bedding is not sufficient. If you don’t have a hot water bottle to hand, you can make one by means of a plastic pop bottle, or similar, by filling with hot water, wrapping the bottle in a towel and placing it next to the hoglet. Then drape a towel/fleece over the hoglet and water bottle. You’ll need to ensure the hoglet is able to move away from the heat source if he gets too hot. Once he’s warmed up (approx ½ hr) he’ll need to be given a rehydrating fluid. Your local wildlife centre will administer this sub-cutaneously, but you could start the process at home (whilst waiting for the hoglet to warm up) by mixing 1 litre of boiled water with 1 tablespoon of sugar and 1 teaspoon of salt, allow to cool to body temperature, then offer the hoglet some of the fluid in a dish. If he fails to drink by himself, he’ll need the fluid fed via a syringe or dropper. I hope the rescue centre is able to take him from you tonight. [Take the heated water bottle and bedding on the journey to the wildlife centre too.]

Good luck to you both, and well done for rescuing the little mite.

I was hoping you would be around to offer advice. The baby is now being warmed by two plastic bottles (why didn't I think of that?) Rehydration fluid is now cooling. I understand the urgency of getting it to a wildlife centre but it is quite a distance from my home and as I work, it will have to wait until tomorrow afternoon. Until then I will do what I can (following your advice) and fingers crossed.

[Hedgehoggy]

Good on you for trying Sounds like you have things nicely under control, and fingers crossed that the hoglet will drink the fluid by itself. If it does, leave plenty of the fluid for the hoglet to help itself to overnight in a [preferably] heavy shallow dish which can't be upended by the hog. Also leave a dish of cat/dog food and, if you have any, a dish of cat bics (dog bics would also be good, but would need to be broken up into hedgehog size bites). The only downside with hot water bottles is that they need to be replaced every few hours, otherwise they'll have the opposite effect once cooled down and freeze the hoglet! You'll need to refill with hot water every few hours

A hoglet of that size would have unlikely survived the winter/hibernation, so you have given it a second chance of life.

[2dogs2000]

I thought I might have a sleepless night. I have a supply of spike and dried mealworms so there is no problem with food. I also have a syringe (left by my daughter who has also left me a guinea pig).

I couldn't take it to the wildlife centre tonight as I had to take one of my dogs to the vets. She is okay, just old and getting arthritic. I also have problems finding the centre in daylight and would not attempt to get there in the dark.

Thank you for the advice and I will do my best for the hedgehog.

[Hedgehoggy]

Hey, I know you will do your best, you're already doing that, and that's all any of us can do.

Glad your elderly dog is ok. I have an elderly diabetic cat and she is a constant source of worry for me.

Hope you manage to get some beauty sleep tonight!

[2dogs2000]

Hedgehog made it through the night and is now in the safe hands of the animal sanctuary.
I had to laugh today as I left my husband in charge of keeping the bottles topped up with hot water to keep hedgehog warm while I was at work and when I arrived home he had the central heating on for the hedgehog. That is a first for him. He usually shakes his head in dismay at me and lets me get on with it.
Thank you hedgehoggy and vole- woman for your help.

I am a bit tired. But it was worth it. I just hope hedgehog makes it now.

[johog]

hi,
just caught this post, as am catching up and haven't been on for ages!

glad the hogs okay, but if you find any more, i'm in wellingborough if thats nearer for you and have been looking after hedgehogs for about 5 years now